Protection and security for workers timely

The Council of Trade Unions is
welcoming initiatives announced today to give workers more
security as the economy slows.

CTU president Helen Kelly
said a job search allowance helps to deal with the immediate
impact of job losses, and workers would value it.

“This
needs to work in conjunction with other forms of support
already established around assistance with CVs,
identification of training needs, assistance with relocation
if required and other forms of customised support for
workers.”

“We note that the National Party will also
be announcing a policy to support workers made redundant,
and we look forward to tomorrow’s release of the
detail.”

“The CTU is requesting that National shelve
its policy of removing the right of appeal against unfair
dismissal in the first 90 days, from all workers starting
work in small firms.”

“This creates huge uncertainty
and anxiety for workers, and is an approach that would be
bad for business, discouraging people from taking jobs in
smaller firms where their protections are removed.”

The
CTU would like an early review of the rules around the job
search allowance to consider extending it to those with less
than 5 years in the workforce, Helen Kelly said.

The CTU
has released a paper today “Short Term Stimulus for Long
Term Gain” as a contribution to the broader debate on what
should be done to support workers, firms and communities
during the global financial crisis which is starting to
impact on the real
economy.

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi brings together over 350,000 New Zealand union members in 40 affiliated unions. We are the united voice for working people and their families in New Zealand.

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